Envelop and envelop-fastener.



No. 663,327. Patnted Dec. 4, I900.

w. 0. enowu, In. ENVJE LOP AND ENVELOP FASTENEB.

(Application filed May 23, 1906.

(No Model.)

m: NORRIS nnzns co. Prioraurka. WASHINGTON. a c.

Uwrrno STATES ATENT FFIOE.

WILLIAM 0. BROWN, .13., or TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF To J. HARVEY, OF SAME PLACE.

ENVELOP AND ENVELOP-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,327, dated December 4, 1906.

Application filed May 23,1900. o'erial No. 17,699. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that LWILLIAM 0. BROWN, J 1 of Toledo, in the county of Lucas, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelops and Envelop-Fastenors, of which the following is a complete specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to produce an improved envelop that is especially adapted to be used by aid of a special fastener as a receptacle .for mail-matter for the transmission of which low rates of postage are charged, but of course without limiting the device from any application to which it may be put.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a side view of a portion of my envelop open with fastener attached thereto. Fig. II is a similar view showing the mouth of the envelop partially folded for closing. Fig. III is asimilar view showing the en velop completely folded, closed, and fastened. Fig. IV is a similar View showing a slightly-modified form of my envelop-fastener. Fig. V is a perspective view of the fastener shown in Figs. I to III, inclusive. Fig. VI is a detail view of a further modification of the fastener.

Referring to the numerals on the drawings, 1 indicates the body of an envelop of any suitable shape and dimensions. As illustrated, it is shown as provided with overlaps 2, which are united by any suitable adhesive material, as in the ordinary manufacture of paper bags or envelops. The envelop illustrated is of the variety which opens at one end. At that end the envelop is cut square across, as indicated, the edges 4 and 5 (see Fig. II) ending flush with each other. For closing the euvelopit is creased or otherwise adapted to be folded along the dotted lines 7, 8, and 9. (Shown in Fig. I.) When the envelop is folded along the lines '7, 8, and 9, it forms in effect a single flap, (designated by the reference-numeral 11 in Fig. III,) and so effects a complete closure of the mouth of the envelop, so that if the flap be secured to the body of the envelop it may be relied upon to hold the contents of the envelop without sealing.

the flap 11 to the body of the envelop, I prefer to employ a fastener 14,consisting,essentially, of a strip of suitable material (preferably metal) provided with a longitudinal slit 15 for the reception of the end of the flap 11, a detent, and means for securing the fastener to the body of the envelop. The detent preferably consists of a neck 16 and an enlarged head 17 and is thereby adapted when inserted in a perforation 18 in the flap 11 to secure the same. The means for securing the fastener to an envelop may be of any suitable kind. For example, they may be the tangs 19, (illustrated in detail in Fig.V,) and which after insertion into the body of the envelop are bent underneath the fastener, or they may consist of eyelets 20. (Indicated in Fig. IV of the drawings.)

The perforation 18 is made in a thickness of material which will afford ample resistance to the accidental tearing out of the detent from the flap 11. For this reason in connection with my fastener I prefer to employ the envelop illustrated, as affording three thicknesses of material through which the perforation 18 is made. It is obvious, however, that my fastener is adapted to other forms of envelops and other forms of flaps thereon than those illustrated.

For convenience of manipulation the fastener is provided with a slightly-raised strip 21, (see Fig. V,) the strip 21 being that part of the fastener which carries the detent.

In Fig. VI, I illustrate a modification of the fastener, which consists in omitting the slit 15 and the middle tang 19. This modification constitutes no departure in principle from the other forms of my fastener illustrated and but a slight departure in the form thereof. The definition of the strip-21 by the slit 15 is merely intended to utilize a portion of the strip 14: to retain the flap 11. Through employment of the form of fastener shown in Fig. VI the whole body of the fastener instead of the strip thereof is utilized to retain the flap of the envelop against the body of the envelop. In Fig. VI the numeral 23 indicates the strip of which the fastener is composed. It is provided with terminal means of securing it to an envelop-for ex- In order to detachably fasten the end of l ample, tangs 24.. It is also provided with a medial detent 25. The detent 25 is shown as wedge-shaped to entera transverse slit in the flap 27 of the envelop; but this is a mere variation as to detail.

In practice the envelop having the flap 11 and provided with the fastener properly applied in required position to the body of the envelop is folded so as to bring the [lap into operative reach of the fastener. The end of the detent is slipped into the perforation 18 in the flap. In this position the flap is securely held by the detent and the head of the detent is covered and protected by the end.

of the flap. If the flap ll be formed upon an envelop of the preferred form illustrated, the corners of the envelop, in forming the flap by creasing the envelop down along the lines 7 and 9, are held down underneath the flap and are secured by the fold of the flap and by its engagement with the fastener.

The operation of the device shown in Fig.

VI is substantially as above described, ex-.

cured to the body of the envelop, provided with a slit and a detent,-and means for en- 7 gaging the flap after the end of the body part thereof is passed through the slit, substan tially as set forth.

v3. The combination with a square-cut envelop provided with a perforation near its upper end andfolded to form a flap, of a fastener secured to the body of the envelop and provided with a slit and detent, the detent being adapted to enter the perforation in the flap and secure the same after the end of the body part of the flap is passed through the slit, substantially as set forth.

4. As a new articleof manufacture an envelop-fastener consisting of a strip adapted to be secured to an envelop, and provided with a detent upon one side thereof, extendingsubstantially in the plane of the strip.

5. An envelop-fastener consisting of a strip adapted to be seen red to an envelop, and provided with a single longitudinal slit, anda detent upon one side thereof, substantially as set forth.

6. An envelop-fastener consisting'of a slitted stri p adapted to be secured to an envelop, and a raised strip defined by the slit therein, and a detent upon the outer edge of the raised strip, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILLIAM 0. BROWN, JR.

W'i-tnesses NORMAN W. CHURCH, WILLIAM F. GOUTY. 

